Notorious dentist who ran over husband wants parole

Clara Harris killed after catching husband with mistress

Updated 12:50 am, Friday, December 21, 2012

Photo: SMILEY N. POOL, STAFF

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Clara Harris leaves the courthouse with her lawyer George Parnham during her February 2003 trial in which she was convicted in her husband's death. She was sentenced to 20 years after jurors decided she acted with "sudden passion."

Clara Harris leaves the courthouse with her lawyer George Parnham during her February 2003 trial in which she was convicted in her husband's death. She was sentenced to 20 years after jurors decided she acted

Before shattering her life, Clara Harris was a successful dentist, raising two young sons with her husband, David, also a dentist.

Before shattering her life, Clara Harris was a successful dentist, raising two young sons with her husband, David, also a dentist.

Photo: Kim Christensen, For The Chronicle

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David Harris, 44, was killed in the parking lot of a Nassau Bay hotel after his wife found him with his mistress.

David Harris, 44, was killed in the parking lot of a Nassau Bay hotel after his wife found him with his mistress.

Photo: Family Photo

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Lindsey Harris, shown with attorney John Davis, left, and her stepfather, James Shank, in 2003, was in the car with Harris when the dentist ran over the teenager's father.

Lindsey Harris, shown with attorney John Davis, left, and her stepfather, James Shank, in 2003, was in the car with Harris when the dentist ran over the teenager's father.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle

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At her 2003 trial, Clara Harris demonstrates how she was driving her car when she first hit her husband.

At her 2003 trial, Clara Harris demonstrates how she was driving her car when she first hit her husband.

Photo: Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

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Clara Harris, flanked by her attorneys Emily Munoz and George Parnham, gets emotional after learning her fate in court in February 2004.

Clara Harris, flanked by her attorneys Emily Munoz and George Parnham, gets emotional after learning her fate in court in February 2004.

Photo: Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

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In 2007, Clara Harris, shown with attorney Dean Blumrosen, was ordered to pay her dead husband's parents, Gerald and Mildred Harris, $3.75 million in a wrongful-death suit.

In 2007, Clara Harris, shown with attorney Dean Blumrosen, was ordered to pay her dead husband's parents, Gerald and Mildred Harris, $3.75 million in a wrongful-death suit.

Photo: Carlos Antonio Rios, Chronicle

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Gerald and Mildred Harris, of Pearland, said they wanted the world to hear that their son David was a "good man."

Gerald and Mildred Harris, of Pearland, said they wanted the world to hear that their son David was a "good man."

Photo: Carlos Antonio Rios, Chronicle

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The case inspired a TV movie, Suburban Madness, starring Sela Ward, left, as a private investigator; Elizabeth Pena, as Harris, and Brett Cullen, as David Harris.

The case inspired a TV movie, Suburban Madness, starring Sela Ward, left, as a private investigator; Elizabeth Pena, as Harris, and Brett Cullen, as David Harris.

Photo: CBS

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In 2003, crews working for Harris' defense team videotape a black Mercedes in the parking lot of the Nassau Bay Hilton, where David Harris was killed.

In 2003, crews working for Harris' defense team videotape a black Mercedes in the parking lot of the Nassau Bay Hilton, where David Harris was killed.

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Harris, shown in 2003, sued her attorney George Parnham, accusing him of overcharging her.

Harris, shown in 2003, sued her attorney George Parnham, accusing him of overcharging her.

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Harris could be out of prison in February.

Harris could be out of prison in February.

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Harris at her trial in 2003.

Harris at her trial in 2003.

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Notorious dentist who ran over husband wants parole

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Clara Harris, the Friendswood dentist who made national headlines 10 years ago by running over her husband in a Mercedes-Benz, could be back on the street in weeks after asking prison officials on Thursday to consider paroling her.

"I think she has a really good chance of getting out," said Emily Detoto, Harris' former attorney and now friend. "She's been a model prisoner. She's never gotten into trouble, and she's worked."

In February, Harris will have served half of her 20-year sentence for the July 24, 2002, manslaughter of 44-year-old David Harris and will for the first time be eligible for parole.

Detoto said the parole board will look at letters from supporters and detractors, how the 54-year-old spent her time in prison and whether she is a danger to the community among other factors before making its decision.

On Thursday Harris was interviewed by a parole officer who will forward a report to the three-person parole board with the other records about Harris. The earliest she could be released is Feb. 9, said Harry Battson, a spokesman for the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole. The agency is expected to make a decision before then.

Other observers said it was unlikely that Harris will be paroled on her first attempt.

"It's extremely rare for someone convicted of a crime of that magnitude to be paroled on their first review," said Andy Kahan, victim advocate for the city of Houston. "It would send a negative message to other victims and their families."

If they decide not to let Harris out, parole board officials will consider the request annually until 2023, when Harris' sentence will end.

In 2005, Harris told the Houston Chronicle that she wanted to be paroled as soon as possible to raise her twin sons who were 3 when their father died.

She won a custody battle against the boys' paternal grandparents, and her sons, who live with family friends, visit her about once a month at the Mountain View Unit outside of Gatesville in Central Texas.

In prison, Harris works converting printed textbooks into Braille for blind students.

In 2002, Harris and her orthodontist husband were building a successful string of dental offices when she found him with his mistress at the Nassau Bay Hilton hotel. He had previously promised to end the extramarital affair with his former receptionist.

Harris knew where her husband was because she hired a private investigation firm to follow her husband. A private investigator was in the hotel parking lot and videotaped the crime, which was shown at trial.

Harris has said she has no memory of the incident, and her sentence was capped at 20 years when jurors decided she acted with "sudden passion."

When he has killed, David Harris' 17-year-old daughter from a previous marriage was in the passenger seat. She testified against her stepmother in 2003 and could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Details of the crime and the trial were broadcast by several national news channels and other media outlets. The incident also spawned a book in 2004, several true-crime TV specials and a made-for-television Lifetime movie.